2013

The Worcester Warriors

Premier league rugby union team the Worcester Warriors has a long and proud history dating back to the 19th century. The club is based at the 11,499-capacity Sixways Stadium - a state-of-the-art facility which has enjoyed a number of multi-million-pound refurbishments including new west, south and east stands and an impressive indoor training centre.

The major development at the east stand includes other modern facilities such as the Business Club, the supporters' bar, many VIP boxes in regular use and the Sanlam, Duckworth, Worcester and Hindlip suites. The ground's spectacular glass-fronted reception area also leads to the well-stocked Sixways Store.

History

Founded in 1871 by Rev Francis John Eld, the team played for the first time on 8th November against Worcester Artillery at Somerset Place. In 1910, the club began hosting annual meetings which are still held today. Following the disruption caused by World War I, the club was reborn in 1918, enlisting a number of new recruits to create 'A' and 'B' teams by the 1920s.

The 1930s was a strong era for the club, with team and community spirit developing to create a force to be reckoned with. In the 1931/32 season, the Warriors won 27 of their 30 games. However, the outbreak of World War II made playing matches virtually impossible and the club had to close down for the duration, starting up again in 1945.

The club went from strength to strength in the following decades, with the 1st XV having their best season in history in 1966/67 under Peter Baxter's leadership. The club celebrated its centenary in 1971, followed by the move to Sixways Stadium from the old Bevere ground in 1975.

Modern Times

In the '90s, the Warriors rocketed up through the leagues, winning promotion to Jewson One in 1997. Executive chairman Cecil Duckworth joined the club, backing a successful lottery bid which brought more than £1.3 million funding to the club.

Worcester Warriors was finally promoted to the Premiership after a perfect 2003/04 season, winning all 26 games played under John Brain's guidance. Director of rugby Dean Ryan joined the Warriors in 2013, attracting new young talent including Ryan Mills, Sam Smith and Nick Schonert.

The club also founded six junior academy centres in the West Midlands and beyond, ensuring the club's future, as the young players were continually developed into first-team players. The 2015/16 campaign was a success following the refurbishment of the Indoor Training Centre into a state-of-the-art High Performance Centre, providing the club with some of the most modern training facilities in the UK.

Following Ryan's departure in 2016, the club's journey continued. Head coach Carl Hogg became responsible for on pitch performance, while high performance director Nick Johnston took on the backroom set-up. Gary Gold was later appointed as director of rugby. The team's success in the 2016/17 season has included a victory over Premiership and European champions, Saracens.

Solent Plastics is delighted to be associated with the Worcester Warriors - a team with a long and successful history. The Warriors use Solent Plastics' extra-strong 35-litre open-fronted plastic container as a secure solution for the storage of their boots. Made from impact-resistant polypropylene, the container's open front enables easy access to the contents, while the boxes stack securely so they can be accessed simultaneously. For further information on our wide range of storage solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us.